Not a single, solitary, actual dyed-in-the-wool progressive has, as far as I can tell, even been mentioned for a position in the new administration. Not one. Remember this is the movement that was right about Iraq, right about wage stagnation and inequality, right about financial deregulation, right about global warming and right about health care. And I don't just mean in that in a sectarian way. I mean to say that the emerging establishment consensus on all of these issues came from the left.

I would also submit that the faith of progressives are a considerable reason Obama was the Democratic nominee in the first place. It seems that being right about the defining political questions of our time means fuck-all to the power structure in D.C.

Jarrett Dapier is a former assistant publisher at In These Times. Previous work for ITT includes interviews with playwright Christopher Shinn and Fugazi guitarist, Ian Mackaye. He currently works with teens at the Evanston Public Library where he runs a recycled drumming program and directs stage adaptations of young adult literature. He lives in Evanston, IL.

btw…I am absolutely 100% opposed to the selection of Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State.

If given the chance I’d write an editorial on it.

This is quite possibly the single most disturbing thing Obama has done so far.

Posted by southern progress on 2008-11-22 11:27:39

I would also submit that the faith of progressives are a considerable reason Obama was the Democratic nominee in the first place. It seems that being right about the defining political questions of our time means fuck-all to the power structure in D.C

I think the progressive community if not now, will become the majority Democratic demographic. I base this partly on the huge surge of younger voters (certainly, myself included) and the increasing legitimacy of minority voters as well. What I’m saying here is this:

Not only would it be contrary to the electability of future Democrats to collude with other political elements—especially those of the past which emphatically includes the Clinton administration—but it will naturally come at the expense of a country we rightfully have a mandate to frickin change.

The best argument I’ve heard about how things seem to be going is that given the times we live in and the monumental challenges that face Obama, it’s vital to hit the ground running. Not saying that progressives can’t do this only that there is a relative blueprint for the kind of change that always occurs when a Democrat takes office and has to actually reverse the disasterous and catastrophic effects of Republican administrations.

Now, this holds water only so long. We voted for change and I am becoming more and more concerned. I’ll keep myself informed with In These Times and do hope your Chi-town connections are heard in D.C. as they well should be.

Posted by southern progress on 2008-11-22 11:21:24

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